Aesthetics: The Search for Harmony and Beauty

Moderator: Adam Gebrian

Panelists: Juhani Pallasmaa, Willem Jan Neutelings, Gábor Demszky, Fumihiko Maki

 

 

 

This panel explored the notion of the influence of architecture and environment on people’s lives and identities. It also emphasized the importance of cooperation between political figures, architects and their clients.

 

Keynote speaker Juhani Pallasmaa, criticized today’s architectural culture, asking, “Shouldn’t architecture seek to strengthen equality, human dignity and optimism instead of offering itself unconditionally to the purposes of consumerism and corporate and private interest?” Such values are important because environments affect people from within. Today’s obsession with consumerism causes people to lose their sense of belonging, and he therefore emphasized the need for architecture to reflect cultural identity. This reflection is more important than forced aesthetic value and building for “selfish, self-centered economic aims.” He added that the focus on cultural identity should not be a conservative one, but rather aimed at the recreation of culture by each generation. Finally, Pallasmaa stressed the growing importance of sustainability in the future of architecture. He called for the use of “more refined, subtle and responsive technologies seen as systems and processes in time, rather than aestheticized objects”.

 

Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki first discussed the process of architecture competitions, and the need to distinguish between observing beauty and feeling delight in architecture. He believed that beauty is subject to culture and can only be judged by time, whereas delight is universal and is “deeply rooted in human emotions.” For example, Maki described his experiences of visiting bookstores and markets to gain a better understanding of local culture and lifestyle before commencing any architectural design. This, he added, gives “basic value to space.”

 

On the examples of improving wastewater treatment and protecting Budapest’s historical city landscapes, former mayor of Budapest, Gábor Demszky, showed that strong government and regulations are necessary for urban development. He called for a stronger role for city authorities to maintain the heritage of buildings while guarding public interests from the interests of private developers. Demszky highlighted the idea of “open space against alienation, exclusion,” as well as “high architectural quality” in his example of one of Budapest’s current major building projects.

 

Dutch architect Willem Jan Neutelings agreed with Demszky on the role of regulation in urban development. “The beauty of cities lies in the simple balance between private and public interests,” he said, adding that “buildings by nature are not just private objects.” He argued that city development should not be left solely to the market, but must be regulated by strong city planning. He also agreed with Pallasmaa that cultural identity should be respected when designing buildings, but that cultural identify can also be shaped by architects. The construction of the Eiffel Tower being a powerful example. The use of contemporary ornaments and cooperation with local artists were also useful ways to enhance the cultural identity of a neighborhood.